Tim Pawlenty on Immigration

Republican MN Governor

If feds won't protect border, then let the states do it

Q: [to Santorum]: How would you prevent illegal immigrants from using our health care, educational, or welfare systems?

SANTORUM: Well, I'm the son of a legal immigrant, and believe in legal immigration. But the federal government should not require
states to provide government services.

Q: [to Pawlenty]: Should each state decide what it does on immigration? Or would you make this is a federal purview, period?

PAWLENTY: I'm a strong supporter of state rights, but if the federal government
won't do its job--in this case, protecting and securing our border--then let the states do it. And they will. When President Bush asked governors to volunteer their National Guard to go to the border to help reinforce our border, through
Operation Jump Start, I was one of the few governors who did it. I sent Minnesota National Guard there to reinforce the border, and it works. And that's what we need to do.

No pathway to citizenship except military service

When asked what should be done with illegal immigrants, Pawlenty answered: "I don't think we're going to give them or should give them a pathway to citizenship in terms of cutting in front of the line. Some people,
I think, should be returned or asked to leave. But if you have, for example, somebody who's served in the military, has been in the US for 20 years and has served with distinction and honor in the
United States military, are you going to throw that person out?"

"It's not a one-size-fits-all answer. I think you have to go through the group of 12 or
15 million people and look at, you know, have they been crime free? Have they served in the military? And make some decisions on a case-by-case basis."

Require federal electronic verification for state employment

WHEREAS the federal Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) have developed programs to allow state and local law enforcement officials to work cooperatively with federal ICE officials and federal law
enforcement officials to combat criminal activity and the violation of federal immigration laws.

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby order:

Minnesota [government] will work cooperatively with federal officials as part of the Agreement of Cooperation in
Communities to Enhance Safety and Security (ACCESS) program, including:

Immigration Cross-Designation and Customs Cross-Designation for a select number of state law enforcement officers to assist ICE task force operations relating to narcotics
smuggling, money laundering, human smuggling and trafficking, fraud or other illegal activity.

Participation by state corrections facilities in the Criminal Alien Program (“CAP”) to identify criminal aliens who are incarcerated within state.